Process of making soil antitoxin.



To all whom it may concera:

anion.

LEONARD ROBERTS COAIES, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PROCESS MAKING SOIL ANTI'I'OXIN.

K0 Drawing.

Be it known that I, LEONARD ROBERTS (loans, of the city of Baltimore and State .of Maryland, have-invented an Improved Method of Producing Antitoxins and Applying the Same to Soils, of which the following is a specification.

- By investigation]: have discovered that in many cases, Want of fertility in soils, is due not so much to paucity therein of microorganisms adapted to abstract nitrogen from thea'lr and fix the -same in plants, or of those micro-organisms which as stated in my ap plication Serial No. 492,287 filed on the 26th day of April, 1909, render available for plantfood, the insoluble salts of phosphorus, potash and lime, but from toxins consisting wholly or in part of emanations from, or the excrement voided by the said micro-organisms, or given off by the plants either independently of, or 1n connection with such micro-organisms. r

' In my researches, I have discovered that the toxins above referred to, are rendered ,harmless by'certain bacteria of putrefaction;

- ,but as there are fund in decomposing aniinal matter various species of micro-organisms too numerous to mention, it is impossible for me at this time, to specify the par ticular class or classes of microorganisms which serve as anti-toxins when applied to the soil.

In support of the above statement with respect to the difficulty in classifying the various micro-organisms found in decompos ing animal matter, I refer to Section IV Part II of Sternbergs Text-B0070 of Bacterz'ology, New York, 1901.

Notwithstanding the complex changes taking place in animal matter during the procin all cases and under all conditions, there are present in the said matter, the particular class or classes of micro-organisms which effect the result before stated, and when the same are provided with a proper food and incorporated with the soil, they will render harmless the toxins produced as aforesaid,

. and I therefore prefer to base my invention 61-9.

on the-use of the material carrying the micro- Speeification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 26, 1909. Serial N 0. 492,289.

Patented Feh-L 1910.

organisms, rather than to identify the organisms by name or classification.

' In carrying out my invention-I prepare a sterilized culture-mixture such as bouillon containing sugar and phosphate of potash, which will sustain the life of bacteria, and impregnate or inoculate the same by immersing therein or adding thereto, decomposing animal matter, thus obtaining a pure culture of such bacteria as arefound in the same, inclusive of those in the particular class which effect the result sought to be attained. I then prepare a food for bacteria composed of ground raw bone or some other suitable substance, and sterilize the same by heat or any analogous process, and then moisten the food \vith'the pure culture described.

The material obtained by the method above set forth, consistsof a pure culture of the micro-organisms found in 'putrefying animal matter together with a sterilized food for the same, and whenthe material is applied to the soil, the micro-organisms thereby introduced,having a foodadapted to sustain their lifeand actively, increase and multiply; and certain of them in accordance with their peculiar functions discoveredby me as above stated, render harmless the toxic einanat-ions .produced as aforesaid. Thesaid material may be used after the manner of a fertilizer, in its concentrated form or it may be increased in bulk by addition thereto of sterilized phosphate rock or some inert sterile filler, to any reasonable extent.

According to my researches, the microorganisms contained-in decomposing animal matter arenot antagonistic to, or destructive of the benign bacteria which in some manner promote'plant life; and it is. believed that shouldthesoil embrace'only the plant-foodproducing nlicro-orgz'lnisms described, and

those herein mentioned as anti-toxins tomaterial adapted to counteract in soils, the

destructive result of the presence therein of duce putrefaction in organic substances, and the excreta, of plant-food-producing lnicrothen inoistening the sterilized food with the 10 organisms, or the toxic emanations of plants, pure culture produced as described, substan which consists in sterilizing a feed for bactially as speclfied.

teria; then sterilizing a culture-mixture LEONARD ROBERTS COATES. adapted to sustain the life of bacteria; then WVitnesses:

inoculating the said' sterilized culture-mix- WM. T. HOWARD,

ture with the micro-organisms which pro- HUGH L. BOND, 3rd. 

